Speak Out!: A Red Devil On Why He Loves United

Hey everyone! I know it's off season & thus there isn't much action out there in footballing terms, and compound that with an attack of severe writers' block, you got no posts on the blog! 

High & dry on ideas, I appealed to our readers if they would like to write for Traffordshire County through the past few months. And today finally, we got a new writer on board - his name is Alok Aryal & he is a hardcore Red Devil from Nepal! So here you got him honest & straight forward on why he's so passionate about football and of course, Manchester United... 

Football is not just a game, it is a religion. Football is a game which is watched and enjoyed by majority of the people in this world, from a child to an old man. Some people watch international football which includes tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup, the Euro, or even the Asian Cup. As seeing the context of the country where I live i.e. Nepal, maximum people enjoy watching these international competitions, some of which I don't even know the name! I  too watch international football - I support England - but I follow club football a lot more.

I support Manchester United Football Club of England, located in Greater Manchester, Sir Matt Busby Way M 016. I started watching Manchester United games from the season of 2003-04, without missing much of them. Unlike most fans in England, I am not a born fan, but from the 2003-04 season, I've been addicted to Manchester United. They have been the religion I want to follow. Old Trafford, the stadium of Manchester United, is the place where I have the dream to go. Following through every game and news of Manchester United is not just a hobby, but my passion. Without football & Manchester United, I guess my life would be incomplete.

The players of Manchester United have been an inspiration to me. Eric Cantona, Bobby Charlton, George Best, Denis Law, Peter Schmeichel, Steve Bruce, Bryan Robson are some of the legends I wish I could have watched them play, some truly inspirational players. Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Roy Keane, Gary Neville, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer were the players whom I watched playing for United in my first season. As I watched more & more football, I came to know that there are few players who are loyal to the club, and sometimes even the loyal players have to leave the club for some reason. I waited for 3 seasons to see my club win a Premier League title.

Then came the 2006-07 season, and Manchester United was crowned as the English Champions for the 16th time in their history. Then for two more seasons Manchester United retained the championship equalling Liverpool's long standing record of 18 league titles. In the 2007-08 season Manchester United even won the Champions League, beating Chelsea in the final! However, 2010-11 season was the biggest season in Manchester United's club history being crowned the English Champions for a record 19th time, finally overtaking Liverpool as England's most successful club.

Some people have often called me a 'glory hunter', just because I support Manchester United. As a matter of fact, the first three seasons I watched were won by first Arsenal (in which they were unbeaten) and the rest two seasons were won by Chelsea. If I was a glory hunter, I would easily have changed the club I supported.  But people are not glory hunters as such, if they follow the team from inside with the passion burning inside them. The time from when you started watching the game does not matter, the thing that matters is how much passion do you have for your club and the game!

These days, I've been known in my country as a great supporter of Manchester United. I feel good for it, because my passion is infinite toward Manchester United. And watching Manchester United play at Old Trafford is my biggest dream and I will fulfill it, for sure. I've learnt great lessons from the club's never-say-die attitude, and the winners' spirit of Manchester United.

Manchester United is my life, my religion and I can't live without them. I'll follow Manchester United till my last breath because Manchester United is in my heart, my soul, my mind.

Glory Glory Man United!!!

I express my thanks & gratitude towards Alok for his contribution to Traffordshire County.

So why did you start supporting Manchester United??? Feel free to leave your comments below or drop me a line on Twitter @AbhinavCJ & I'll get back to you right away!

That's all Folks!

Yours,

CJ

In A Nutshell: Ginger Prince Retires, Owen To Stay On & More...

Hey everyone! We know that the season is over as Manchester United lost to Barcelona deservingly at Wembley last Saturday, but then, look at it in a positive way - we won a record 19th league title & reached the Champions League final for the third time in four years! Isn't that a sort of an achievement, especially when we lacked players like Ronaldo, Tevez & Rooney (okay, for the season's first half)? What a team effort it has been from Manchester United, as our fellow Red Devils stressed in our last post. So let's be cheerful, and look forward to a summer full of shopping surprises, eh?

As we have nothing much to offer on the footballing action (except to tell, if you've been living under a rock, that England embarrassingly drew 2-2 with Switzerland at Wembley), we got you much of what's happened at Manchester United in the past week - In A Nutshell!

Scholes Hangs Up His Boots

Manchester United's veteran midfielder Paul Scholes retired from all forms of football on Wednesday. It had been rumoured that Scholes was growing dissatisfied with his bit-part playing role & so he will take up a coaching role at the club next season onwards. The 36-year-old was a member of the famed academy youth batch of 1992 & made his senior team debut in 1994, going on to make 676 appearances in a career spanning 17 years. Scholes's final game for the club was last weekend's Champions League final defeat to Barcelona, in which he was a second-half substitute. He won 10 Premier League titles & after missing the 1999 Champions League final through suspension, was part of the 2008 triumph over Chelsea in Moscow.

The midfielder's press statement read as such:
''I am not a man of many words but I can honestly say that playing football is all I have ever wanted to do. To have had such a long and successful career at Manchester United has been a real honour. To have been part of the team that helped the club reach a record 19th title is a great privilege.


''This was not a decision I have taken lightly but I feel now is the right time for me to stop playing. I would like to thank the fans for their tremendous support throughout my career, I would also like to thank all the coaches and players that I have worked with over the years.


"But most of all I would like to thank Sir Alex [Ferguson] for being such a great manager. From the day I joined the club his door has always been open and I know this team will go on to win many more trophies under his leadership."

Speaking on the Ginger Prince's decision, manager Sir Alex Ferguson said -

''What more can I say about Paul Scholes that I haven't said before? We are going to miss a truly unbelievable player. Paul has always been fully committed to this club and I am delighted he will be joining the coaching staff. Paul has always been inspirational to players of all ages and we know that will continue."

Ginger Prince - Champion Forever

Honestly, I haven't watched Scholes play in the 90s or even in the first half of the last decade, when he was at the top of his game. But whatever I have seen of him in the past six years or so, I feel lucky coz he is such a fine player. Even though he is totally opposed to being in the limelight unlike David Beckham or Gary Neville, he will remain one of the greatest footballers ever to don the Red shirt. Thank you Scholesy!

Owen Signs New Deal

One more year...

Manchester United striker Michael Owen has signed a one-year extension to his time at the club. The former Liverpool & Real Madrid striker was signed up from Newcastle United on a free transfer in the summer of 2009 after Cristiano Ronaldo left the club as the world's costliest player. It was originally perceived that Owen would leave the club for free this summer after his contract expired but Sir Alex Ferguson sprung a surprise by offering him a new deal. The manager is reportedly impressed by the former England forward's off-the-pitch contribution. Plus he offers a vast amount of experience following the retirements of Edwin van der Sar, Gary Neville & Paul Scholes this season.

Sir Alex expressed his thoughts on Owen's new deal as under:
''Michael has proved to be a top footballer. It is unfortunate that he did not get more opportunities but the form of Chicharito [Hernández] put everyone in the shade and his partnership with Rooney proved invaluable. I am delighted Michael is staying for a further year and we will look to give Owen more opportunities in the new season."

Michael Owen expressed his delight on staying at Old Trafford alongwith winning his first ever Premier League title medal. He said:
''To play alongside so many great players, under an exceptional manager, and in front of so many passionate supporters is a real inspiration. I can't wait for next season to start.''

Berbatov Vows To Fight For His Place

Down... But Not Out

Manchester United forward Dimitar Berbatov told the press that he will not be leaving the club in the summer, despite the disappointment of being left out of the Champions League final squad, when he didn't even make the bench.

Berbatov said, ''I am a Manchester United player and I will be glad to fulfil my contract. Everyone has some difficulties but I have always fought and will keep fighting for a prime place. I never gave up in my life."

The Bulgarian striker also refuted reports that he stormed away from the Wembley stadium just before the Champions League final. He remarked, ''The truth is that I was in the dressing rooms and watched the game on TV. I was just so very disappointed and ashamed that I was left out of the squad. I cannot hide my emotions and I did not want people to see how sad I was. But this was the manager's decision. The pain from Wembley cannot make me give up but only fight more."

He spoke with optimism regarding his role at the club next season - ''There is always next year. I will aim for this (Champions League) as long as I play football. Winning England's top scorer title is a grand achievement for me as a foreigner.''

''Manchester United is the highest step for me. Everything after that will be a step down. This moment will come but for the time being I am a United player and I want to stay and help win the 20th title, which I am certain is on its way."

That's all we have from Old Trafford at the moment! But hey, it's not over. As it's off season, the most interesting piece of news would probably be the transfer rumours involving Manchester United. So in our 50th blogpost, we start off with a mini-blog feature called 'Word On The Street' - in which we look into transfer gossip linking players to a move to Old Trafford, or away from it!

So first up, the Daily Mail reports that Manchester United have beaten Liverpool in the race to sign England striker-cum-winger Ashley Young for a fee of £20 million.

The Daily Mail also reports that Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Luka Modric has alerted Manchester United & Chelsea that he is open to a move, since he admitted he will miss playing Champions League football. The Croatian is contracted to Spurs till 2016, which means he won't come cheap. Given Harry Redknapp's declaration to hold on to his best players, it will take a bid in excess of £30 million to prise Modric away from Whit Hart Lane.

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has identified Darron Gibson as the man to replace Jordan Henderson, who has been linked with a big money move to Liverpool. Bruce also wants to sign Wesley Brown, who has fallen behind Jonny Evans & Chris Smalling in the pecking order for central defence positions at Old Trafford.

And finally, West Brom want to re-sign Tomasz Kuszczak for £3 million. The Polish international has become surplus to requirements after the confirmation of 21-year-old Spanish goalkeeper David De Gea signing on from Atletico Madrid for £18 million, plus Danish numero uno Anders Lindegaard already in the ranks.

So what are your thoughts on all that happened at the club? Think it was time for Scholes to go? And would you prefer Owen over Berbatov? Feel free to leave your comments below or drop me a line on Twitter @AbhinavCJ & I'll get back atcha right away!

As I finish off, you can read this excellent piece on Paul Scholes on the ever-brilliant football blog 'BigFourZa'.

That's all Folks!

Yours,
CJ

Red Devil Rendezvous: The Season Review

Hey everyone! Long time eh??? Over a month's self-imposed hiatus coz of exams, but couldn't resist any longer! So here I am, back with another new blog feature - RED DEVIL RENDEZVOUS - well you could say the Rival Rendezvous has been tweaked a bit to make it a candid chat with some of my fellow Red Devils!

Much happened this season. First of all, Manchester United became CHAMPIONS of England for a record 19th time, knocking Liverpool off their effing perch of 18 league titles! Plus we are gonna play the Champions League final against Barcelona at Wembley in three days! Then among other news, Manchester City secured their first trophy after a 36-year-long wait to win the FA Cup, crushing United's hope of a second Treble in the semifinal. Good work there, Mr. Mancini. Also, Carlo Ancelotti became the seventh manager to be sacked in eight years by Roman Abramovich, after Chelsea finished trophyless this season. And finally, the bad news that entertainers Blackpool were relegated on the last day of the season as they lost 4-2 at Old Trafford. But then, one gotta move on, and I hope Blackpool are back in the Premier League soon, coz they deserve to be there!

Champione champione Ole ole ole!!!

At the end of the season, I caught up with two of my fellow Man United fans - Anand a.k.a. Ducky of the excellent football blog BigFourZa (I like to call him Boss, you see!) and Shantanu a.k.a. Shaan of the awesome Facebook fan page Inside Manchester United on what they thought of Manchester United's season:

1. Sum up Manchester United's Premier League season in three words.

Ducky: Efficient. Relentless. Consistent.

Shaan: Nineteenth. Nineteenth. Nineteenth.

2. According to you, the game(s) that won us the title?

D: Blackpool, 3 goals in 18 minutes. Bolton at home with 10 men. And of course, the game that really did actually win it. Chelsea, 2-1 :) I pick these games because it's exactly the kind that the other 'contenders' repeatedly bottled over their season.

S: Chelsea game. That tension before the game can't be described as much as the joy after that quick Hernandez goal.

3. Who has been your player of the year at Man United? Why?

D: Well, it's just impossible to pick isn't it. 7 players who got 7/10, 4 who get 8/10 for the season. Chicharitoooo, if I had to pick one, for sheer shock value :)

S: Berbatov. Took the team forward when Mr. Ambition questioned the club. Nani comes a close second.

4. Thoughts on the longevity of 'Sir' Ryan Giggs?

D: Slightly bad timing now eh, with the revelations about the affair and all. But as a sportsman, it's just unbelievable how he's changed as his body has changed, as football has changed, etc. That's what proves how every sport has a mental component, thinking, understanding, adapting. It's not just about picking a pass or running with the ball. It's about deciding against whom it's better to do what.

S: Always said he can play as long as he can. But at the same time, we should stop being dependent on him.

5. How does it feel to know that Neville, Van der Sar & probably Scholes will have retired by the end of this season?

D: Well, for any team losing sch three experienced players wold always be an issue. But somehow with United, you just know we'll be ok, somehow. Van der Sar's leaving causes the most concern... I shudder when I think back to the days when we had Barthez and Carroll as out 'first choice' keepers, and this happened just after Schmeichel left. Goalkeepers leaving somehow take a long time to fill up, they're the most stable part of a team. Losing them can be quite a blow...

S: It's really sad to see them go. They've been really great. It's the end of an era. It's going to be hard to replace them.

6. If you were given a chance to find a successor to Sir Alex Ferguson, who would you choose? Or would like Fergie to go on & on & on?

D: I don't know really... somehow it feels like no one can follow Fergie. It will happen eventally, of course, but right now I'm hoping for the 'on and on and on...' :)

S: I'd like him to stay as long as he can. Lets be honest, this season wouldn't have been the way it was had it not been him. And to replace him? Well we have Blanc, Bruce, O'Neill.

7. What has been your favourite moment this season? Why?

D: Rooney. Man City. Overhead. You need me to answer 'why'? :)

S: All the comebacks this season. And well the Chelsea game!

8. The worst moment? And again, why?

D: Rooney again. Transfer request. I thought he was one of us, for life. His is the only United shirt I've bought recently. I knew CR7 would leave, I knew Tevez was a bastard, but I thought Rooney was with us. And it was such a shock when he said he wasn't. Which is what makes the previous moment worth so much more too.

S: Losing 3-1 to Pool. Absolutely hate losing to them.

9. Three signings you'd like Sir Alex to make in the summer with that £100 million?

D: I don't know names, if I did, I would be managing a Prem Club myself. But after what I saw in the Schalke games, by God is there any way we can get Neuer?? Apart from that... a replacement for Hargo. Anderson is just not the guy. And third... well, another central midfielder I think.

S: Modric, Marin, De Rossi/M'Vila. No Sneijder!

10. Three players you'd like to see walking out the door at Old Trafford?

D: Gibson, Evans and Macheda (if he's walking back in)

S: Brown (He's been a great players for us all these years, but he's hardly started 2-3 games this season. He's 31. Still has some football left in him. Let him go out and enjoy his last years), PIG (Isn't it obvious?!), Berba (Not getting any play time. He's a quality player. Why waste it on the bench?)

11. Man City ended their title drought of 36 years with the FA Cup. D'you expect them to be title contenders next season, now that they have finished in the top four?

D: I don't think so, especially if Tevez leaves. Balotelli is not going to get 20 goals a season. And with Chelsea in disarray, that leaves the most consistent other title contenders as Arsenal! Oh wait...

S: With them in the CL, they will be spending more and bringing in quality players. They are building a strong team. And yes, they can give us a tough time.

12. On an ending note, do you really think Manchester United can beat a rampaging Barcelona at Wembley? What makes you think so after what happened back in 2009?

D: Fletcher? Has he got the energy back? If he is fit enough, I'd straight pick him over Carrick in the middle of the park. He's the guy who was missing in Rome as well. He can really annoy the crap out of that triangular passing Catalan maniacs. Him and Park.

S: It's pretty hard to say anything about that game. Barcelona are clear Favs. But this United team, although not a great team, is more of a "Team". Play the 4-4-2 we've been playing lately. With Park, Giggs, Carrick/Fletcher (if fully fit), Valencia. Rooney behind Chicha. 2009, everything went wrong. We don't want to repeat that again. Barca are a great team. But surely not unbeatable. We have a chance to defeat them. And just might as well.

Traffordshire County thanks both Ducky & Shaan for this blog feature. You can follow Ducky on Twitter @BFZ_MUFC & Shaan @Shaanmufc.

So what are your thoughts on whatever happened this season at Old Trafford? Feel free to leave your comments below or you can drop me a line on Twitter @AbhinavCJ & I'll get back to you asap!

Have you voted in the blog poll question yet??? Go & vote for the player(s) you feel will finish the club's top goalscorer on the night of 28th May! Time's running out!

As I end, news came in this morning that Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed that Manchester United are close to signing up Atletico Madrid's highly rated 20-year-old goalkeeper David De Gea for a fee of 18 million pounds. Welcome to Old Trafford, David! I hope you fill Sir Edwin's massive boots next season onwards for the years to come!

Bright future ahead, isn't it???

That's all Folks!

Yours,

CJ